There will be some convenience for citizens filing Right to Information (RTI) applications. By this month-end, the state government intends to make filing of applications and giving of responses online. The four departments that will go online are minority affairs, environment, culture and tourism and Marathi language.

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"The idea was to start by August 15, but due to the delay in training of public information officers and first appellate authority, the online system will begin by this month-end," said PS Meena, additional chief secretary, admin reform. This department looks after RTI implementation.

The online filing, as per the government, will happen through a dedicated website for RTI. Besides filing applications, replies will also be given through the online route. "There was also a problem of answers being retrieved online. We will see what are the problems and hitches faced in the functioning of the site through these four departments. Once the functioning is smooth, all other departments will be covered in it," said Meena. Maharashtra sees the most number of RTI applications being filed in the country. However, it did not have an online system until recently. At the Centre, the department of Personnel and Training had started the initiative.

"It is a good thing that they are starting this website. The website should contain all the details of the public information officers and first appellate authorities. It should should also have details of the deaths of RTI activists in Maharashtra," said Vihar Durve, a Pune-based RTI activist who has been demanding online filing and a dedicated website for RTI.